Epilepsy syndrome-associated balance dysfunction assessed by static posturography

PURPOSE To compare subclinical balance dysfunction in patients with various epilepsy syndromes with apparently healthy subjects. METHODS Twenty-seven patients with localization-related epilepsy (LRE), 19 with primary generalized epilepsy (PGE), who had no subjective complaints of impaired balance and no abnormal neurologic findings on examination, and 22 apparently healthy subjects, underwent static posturography using the Posture Scale Analyzer (PSA) system. RESULTS Sway index was higher in patients compared to healthy subjects in all tests, significant for single leg stance (p=0.005). Patients with PGE had a higher sway index compared to patients with LRE in six of the tests, also significant for single leg stance (p=0.027). This difference was not affected by the type of AED treatment or disease duration. CONCLUSION Posturography can improve balance function assessment in patients with epilepsy, demonstrate subclinical impairment in seemingly asymptomatic patients, and further characterize balance deficits in different epilepsy syndromes.